Cheri Leavy & Whitney Long on Turning Friendship Into The Southern C Community
The Joy Club Podcast
67 views
What happens when two friends set out to build a network, and end up building a family instead?
In this episode of The Joy Club Podcast, Emily McCarthy sits down with Cheri Leavy and Whitney Long, co-founders of The Southern C, a community that has spent over a decade bringing together entrepreneurs, creatives, and small business owners from across the South.
Cheri and Whitney share how their careers in Southern magazine publishing led them to start a blog together, and how a simple idea to connect with fellow business owners grew into in-person events that now define a movement.
They talk honestly about their very first event, a summit that survived a sideways rainstorm and became a story their community still tells today, and how they've grown and pivoted through the years, from swag bags packed in a living room to hosting summits, retreats, and workshops across the South. Cheri and Whitney also open up about what it really takes to build a business with your best friend, from learning to pick up the phone instead of texting to knowing when to say no.
The conversation closes with an exciting announcement: The Southern C is sunsetting its Sea Island chapter, and celebrating with a tribute night in honor of one of their community's biggest inspirations.
This is a conversation about connection, community, and building something that outlasts any single event.
Timestamps:
0:00 - Welcome & meet Cheri Leavy and Whitney Long
3:00 - Life before The Southern Sea: their career journeys
9:00 - Sideways rain and the first-ever Southern Sea event
25:00 - What people don't see behind the scenes
39:00 - Sunsetting Sea Island and a special tribute night
Mentioned in this episode:
The Southern Sea community, summits, retreats, and workshops
The Southern Sea's upcoming Palm Beach event
Final Sea Island summit, January 2027
Join us:
Subscribe to The Joy Club Podcast so you don't miss an episode.
Like this one? Let us know what stayed with you.
Leave a review - it helps other women find us.
Links:
Emily McCarthy | Designer Fashion & Lifestyle Brand
https://emilymccarthy.com/
Joy Club Podcast on Instagram
Instagram: joyclubpodcast
Cheri Leavy & Whitney Long on Turning Friendship Into The Southern C Community
The Joy Club Podcast
67 views
What happens when two friends set out to build a network, and end up building a family instead?
In this episode of The Joy Club Podcast, Emily McCarthy sits down with Cheri Leavy and Whitney Long, co-founders of The Southern C, a community that has spent over a decade bringing together entrepreneurs, creatives, and small business owners from across the South.
Cheri and Whitney share how their careers in Southern magazine publishing led them to start a blog together, and how a simple idea to connect with fellow business owners grew into in-person events that now define a movement.
They talk honestly about their very first event, a summit that survived a sideways rainstorm and became a story their community still tells today, and how they've grown and pivoted through the years, from swag bags packed in a living room to hosting summits, retreats, and workshops across the South. Cheri and Whitney also open up about what it really takes to build a business with your best friend, from learning to pick up the phone instead of texting to knowing when to say no.
The conversation closes with an exciting announcement: The Southern C is sunsetting its Sea Island chapter, and celebrating with a tribute night in honor of one of their community's biggest inspirations.
This is a conversation about connection, community, and building something that outlasts any single event.
Timestamps:
0:00 - Welcome & meet Cheri Leavy and Whitney Long
3:00 - Life before The Southern Sea: their career journeys
9:00 - Sideways rain and the first-ever Southern Sea event
25:00 - What people don't see behind the scenes
39:00 - Sunsetting Sea Island and a special tribute night
Mentioned in this episode:
The Southern Sea community, summits, retreats, and workshops
The Southern Sea's upcoming Palm Beach event
Final Sea Island summit, January 2027
Join us:
Subscribe to The Joy Club Podcast so you don't miss an episode.
Like this one? Let us know what stayed with you.
Leave a review - it helps other women find us.
Links:
Emily McCarthy | Designer Fashion & Lifestyle Brand
https://emilymccarthy.com/
Joy Club Podcast on Instagram
Instagram: joyclubpodcast